The body of a woman was exhumed for a post mortem two months after her death when some members of her family expressed concern that her prescribed medicine may not have been correctly administered, an inquest at Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Ms Nuala Brocklebank (58) of Huband Road, Bluebell, Dublin, died on December 7th, 1998. Her general practitioner was willing to sign a death certificate as he had been treating her for heart disease and high blood pressure for several years. She also had a serious stroke some months before her death.
However, Dr Philip O'Connell said when members of her family brought a large number of unused tablets to his office he became suspicious and notified the gardai who began an investigation.
Two of the deceased woman's sons, Brendan and John Brocklebank, told the inquest they feared that their late brother, Gerard, who lived with his mother and their sister, might not have given her the required medicine or might have given her too much of it, as he had a serious problem with alcohol.
Professor John Harbison, State Pathologist, said his post mortem examination showed severe heart disease, and he could not rule out a stroke, both of which could have caused Ms Brocklebank's death.
He added that he was handed 451 tablets used for the treatment of high blood pressure, and records to show that 510 had been prescribed. Some of the containers were unopened.
Some blister packs of other prescribed tablets also were intact which might indicate Ms Brocklebank was not taking her medicine.
The Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, recorded an open verdict.